Harmless Irritation or Allergic Reaction?

Posted: 06/21/2017

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. But it can also be one of the most sensitive. This can make it difficult to know whether your skin irritation is something that will go away within minutes, or it is a sign that you are having an allergic reaction. If you do have a severe allergic reaction, whether environmental or food-related, understanding your skin behavior is extremely important and could even save your life.

Here are some steps to take to determine if your skin rash or other irritation could be an allergic reaction:

Examine Your Symptoms

Skin symptoms can vary widely. Note whether your skin is itchy, inflamed, red or burning? Skin irritations that are more than just a change in color may indicate an allergic reaction.

Keep A Close Eye

The second step is to monitor your skin behavior. Are your symptoms dissipating or accelerating with time? If it is staying stagnant or getting worse, an allergy may be the culprit.

Treat It

If the first two steps indicate a possible allergic reaction, consider treating it promptly. Call a board-certified dermatologist to let them know of your situation. Olansky Dermatology Associates sees children and adults and is readily available to handle your urgent skin concerns. We may recommend taking an over-the-counter antihistamine or applying cortisone to the area. This works to stabilize the skin reaction until we can determine the exact trigger and severity.

Patch-testing can be done to determine what you may be allergic to. While it may be uncomfortable to deal with skin irritations, your skin can be a very helpful and visible warning sign that your body is not responding properly to a certain stimulant. Whether it is aspirin, eggs or a certain perfume, your skin can tell you if your body is rejecting it.

To learn more about your skin and how you can take better care of it when it reacts abnormally, call Olansky Dermatology Associates in Atlanta.

We will begin seeing patients for in office visits May 11th and will continue to offer virtual appointments and follow ups via telemedicine. We have implemented several measures to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. Please contact us today to pre-schedule an in person visit or book a virtual appointment online. We look forward to seeing you all very soon.